What is Home

Chapter Forty-Four

"She's in lunch there is no class to get to." He hushed the kind girl, who was his best friend's sister. But he had no idea. He directed his attention back to me. "Please Charlee girl."

Be strong Charlee, be strong.

"I can explain everything."

"You can always explain everything. You always have an excuse waiting." I grabbed my crutches sliding them under my arms. "Did you make excuses for Emery too? Did you do this to her Grayson? Make her feel like your world and then rip that world away from her? Maybe that's why she was as fucked up as me." I hopped out of the nurse's office, or at least tried to before his hands wrapped around my body tightly.

The grip was tight like my father's. Images flashed of the arms being my father's. Tears for the second time in thirty minutes wet my face. Fear filled words escaped my lips. "Let go of me."

"Take back what you said and I will."

"Grayson she asked you to let go of her, so let go or you'll be out of this playoff game." I felt his head whip in Pierce's sister's direction behind me. This girl was going to be my saving grace at this school. A Kingston would always be my safe space. The threat from her made his arms drop to his sides.

"Thank you Casey." I said before exiting the room. I could feel Grayson looming behind me as I re-entered the cafeteria, seeing my brother now sitting at a table full of his friends. Friends that clearly were no longer mine.

"Charlee Baker." Grayson said from behind me as I sat at a table on the outskirts of the area filled with kids.

"Grayson Tyler." I said staring straight ahead avoiding meeting his presence.

"I wanted to stay with you but Ally wouldn't let me." I shook my head at his excuse. "Okay maybe that's a lie." I laughed already knowing that. "I didn't want to get stuck not wanting to leave your side like this morning." I laughed harder at that lie. He practically shoved me into my classroom trying to get away.

"Let me call your next lie; Charlee I actually like you." I finally laid eyes on the boy standing behind my chair. "Charlee, I'm not using you. Charlee, I-" His fingers clasped over my lips stopping the words from escaping.

Again flashbacks of my father stifling my screams flashed in my mind. I could tell fear shot to my eyes when Grayson quickly removed his hand.

"I'm trying so damn hard to let you in Grayson. I don't let people in. Here I am trying so hard to let you in when clearly I shouldn't. I actually felt happy seeing you this morning. Do you know the last time I was happy?" I shook my head. "You don't because the last time I was happy was when I was sat beside my best friend grossing out my roommate in the group home by pretending to kiss him. Or maybe we were actually kissing and that's what made me so happy. Because I felt actual love from someone." I closed my eyes for a second as Pierce's face lit up, a laugh escaping his soft lips as our faces parted. Genuine happiness unveiling all his guarded layers. "But what does it matter because that boy is gone." I looked over at Pierce sitting at the table with my brother. "The devil wrapped her arms around him and pulled him under." I looked back at Grayson who was lost in the confusion of my words.

"Kiss me. Let me make you happy." I couldn't believe him. I actually couldn't fucking believe him.

"You are unbelievable." His blue eyes danced to my lips and back to my eyes. Only causing my eyes to do the same as his tongue poked out to wet his lips. Lips that I had been thinking of all morning.

"Unbelievably stupid."

"You can say that again."

"Unbeli-" Every single word leaving his mouth had his grip wrapping tighter around me, or I guess, more my grip around him wrapping tighter. He had me as wrapped around his finger as one could be. Because he was the only person trying. He brought his face closer to mine restarting his words. "Unbelievably stupid." His words drifted like a boat out on the open waters from his mouth. It was smooth as butter. He had me wanting to push my lips against his. "Do it Charlee" He said in a whisper for only me to hear.

I brought my bottom lip in between my teeth for just a few seconds, knowing how incredibly stupid I was for what I was about to do. I needed to do this. I needed to get over Pierce. Stupid fucking Pierce. Pierce who was just shit talking me to my damn brother. As the thoughts of Pierce's words started to fill me with anger, I pushed my lips into Grayson's. Stupidity taking over.

"Mmm." Grayson let out as his lips pulled away from mine. "Now that's my Charlee girl." A smirked played on his lips like he had just won a battle we were fighting. Because he indeed just had.

"Been dreaming of my lips all day Gray?" I laughed knowing it was far from the truth. My conviction just wasn't as it was this morning. It sounded stupid leaving my lips now.

"Every day since you entered this school Charlee girl." He tried to wink but failed the task as both of his eyes closed.